Not because of any Pandava, this time, because of Duryodhan, Karna ended up in Kashi.

Duryodhan had not come but he had requested Karn to tag along with Dussahan. Duryodhan would never leave his pregnant wife, even in his dreams, to attend any other Swayamvara.

Dussahan had five wives already, including sweet Chandramukhi but he was quite excited to have Princess Valandhara as well.

Bheem and he were glaring at each other and Karna was rolling his eyes again and again. He didn't want any other Swayamvara to turn in a battleground.

Because of this, Hastinapura was trending in the Aryavarta.

That kingdom where two sets of cousins live.

That kingdom which got divided.

I believe it's Amba's curse. Bhishma kidnapped the three, didn't he?

Oh...Kauravas and Pandavas, they fought again?

That kingdom is going towards its doom.

And plenty more.

Valandhara and Bhima shared an eye lock. Bhima got up and that was enough to declare that he was ready for a duel with everyone in order to win her.

Nobody stepped up as everybody knew a lot about Bhima and his anger. The news of him killing two demons in hiding after Varnavrat were quite famous now.

So, Valandhara got up silently but she was smiling softly. She did want Bhima.

Karna knew it was obvious.

Out of everyone, Karna thought, Bhima was supposed to be chosen because Bhima had prowess and he looked good. He was mighty and had the Queen of powerful demons as his wife. He was undefeatable.

A girl would desire for a husband like him.

Karna shook his head at Dussahan who decided to get up and challenge Bhima. He knew that Bhima was very sour about Varnavrat and even more because of the poison Kheer incident where it was him who was the victim.

Bhima would literally divide Dussahan into two in front of everyone if Dussahan challenged him right now and if Valandhara was happy, they were no one to interfere.

"I have a request Angraj before marrying Arya", Valandhara said as Karna looked at her, raising his eyebrows.

"I want you to marry my sisters, they want you as their husband", Valandhara requested.

"What?! No!" Karna shrieked in horror.

"Please Angraj", Valandhara demanded. "They really admire you. And, the pearls given by the wise sage flew up in air as soon as you came. They were to indicate who should be the husband of my sisters. And, it's you. Please marry them", she ordered in a strong voice.

Karna was simply amused at the fact, that how royals ordered him. If Duryodhan would have been here, he would have got all blown up at the Princess for asking him to marry.

"Why didn't it got used for you then?" Karna asked.

"My sisters needed great advise in deciding their future. I was big enough to choose my husband but they weren't able to. Pitashree never wanted us to marry someone like this. I heard about Rajkumar Bhima and fell in love with him. Pitashree got all information about him so that it is confirmed, whether my choice is good for me or not but my sisters weren't able to make a choice only, at the first place. So, pitashree got those pearls", she said.

"I don't understand anything from it", Karna said. "This is utter nonsense", he added.

"He has already wives at home who are pregnant and he's a newly made father too. He has no interest in marriage so kindly excuse us", Dussahan said.

"Angraj", Kashi king appeared in front. "When girls are not able to make choices, their family tells them who to choose for their own benefit, or they are abducted. Even if they make a choice, there's no guarantee whether it will be correct or not", the king said.

True.

"Bhima is of course a good choice", The king said. Karna scoffed. Yes, Any Pandava is the best choice, he thought sarcastically.

"I was worried about my other daughters. And, there can be nothing great than the advise of divine souls. There can no better match except you, for my daughters. So, please accept this proposal", the king said.

"They know nothing about me. How can the choice of some pearls be the choice of them? I hardly believe in these things", Karna exclaimed furiously.

"Panchal princesses also knew nothing about you", The Kashi Queen argued.

"They are literally born for me. If the purpose of their life is marriage with me, Draupadi's purpose is marriage with Arjun, why on earth will they need to know about me? They are boons of veneration and they know everything about everyone. How does it relate to your daughters?" Karna asked.

"The choice of pearls is their choice, Angraj", Valandhara said. "Believe us, we won't marry them anywhere, they don't want to marry", she added calmly.

Latika

Ira

Uditi

Abhirupa

Chandni

(The Princesses)

(Same outfit, different colours)

They came silently and kept those pearls at his feet.

Surprisingly, they started glowing brightly and everybody stared at it with jaw drops and widened eyes.

They looked at him with so much of hope and devotion that he wasn't able to say no. "I will marry your daughters", he declared.

The Kashi King and Queen grinned big hearing it.

"Thank you, Angraj", They said and Karna nodded. The Princesses stood beside him with a smile and he smiled back but his heart was clenching with worry about how will he explain it to his wives.

The people left and only Kashi royals and people were there.

Bhima and Valandhara's swayamvar rituals got completed. Karna's wedding with the five princesses began.

Karna and his new wives bid farewell to the people and they along with Bhima and Valandhara took off.

Bhima and Valandhara went to Indraprastha after Valandhara bid farewell to her sisters and Karna took them directly to Anga instead of Hastinapura.

However, they saw Dussahan had already reached there. He had left early.

"He explained everything to us", Vrushali muttered. "Don't worry", she whispered with a smile and welcomed the Princesses, the new Anga Queens.

Karna smiled gratefully at Dussahan who nodded respectfully and went to Hastinapura, to explain the happenings.

Karna just loved how supportive his wives were.

He was surprised seeing five new beds in the common chamber where the Princesses gladly went. Even this time they gelled up well, explaining the story of those pearls.

Question- What are your thoughts on pairing of Lakshmana and Vrishasena?

At first, I thought it be weird. As, Karna was actually elder brother of Pandavas. So, Vrishasena would be son of Lakshmana's uncle. But, then I realised, even Subhadra and Arjuna are cousins.

Share your views on it.